Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1887-10-28


hundred feet, the width of the circle itself,
or a total of six hundred feet from the
rounded extremity of one ray or petal to
the extremity of the opposite one (these
are internal measurements.-A.Q O..
The building itself is of pure and polished
white marble, which shows out in marvel
Gus contrast to the red granite Of the frown-
ing city, on whose brow it glistens indeed
like an imperial diadem upon the forehead
of dusky queen. The outer surface Of
the dome and Of the twelve petal courts il
covered entirely with thin sheets of beaten
gold; and from the extreme point OF the
roof of each Of these petals glorious gold
en- form with trumpet in its hand and
widespread wings IS figured in the very
could perceive that an immense multitude
were pouring into the temple, evidently
In expectation of some unusual event, and
and | could not help fearing that we had
to do with it. And here / may explain
that every day, when the sunlight falls
upon the central altar, and the trumpets
sound, burnt sacrifice is offered TO the
sun, consisting generally Of the carcass of
q sheep or an OK, or sometimes OF fruit or
corn. This event comes of about midday;
of course, not always exactly at that hour,
but as Zu-Vendis is situated not far from
the line-although being so high above the
sea it is very telnperate-midday and the
falling OF the sunlight on the altar were
generally simultaneous, To-day the sac
riice was to take place at about eight
minutes past twelve.
Just at twelve o'clock priest appeared
and made a sign, and the officer of the
guard signifed 10 us that we were expect
ed to advance, which we did with the best
grace that we could muster; all except AL
phonse, whose irrepressible teethinstantly
began to chatter. In a few seconds we
were out of the court and looking at Il vast
sea of human faces stretching away to the
farthest limits of the great circle, all
straining to catch glimpse of the myster-
icus strangers who had committed sacri-
lcge; the first strangers, mind you, who.
to the knowledge OF the multitude, had
ever set foot in Zu-Vendis since such time
that the memory of man runneth not to
the contrary.
AS we appeared there was murmur
throughout the vast crowd, that went
echoing away up the great dome; and we
saw visible blush Of excitement grow on
the thousands of faces, like q pink light on
u SLIclCll Vi lJtllG ClButl, anu Il very
effect il was. On we passed down a lane
cut through the heart Of the human mass,
till presently we stood upon the brazen
patch Of flooring to the east of the central
altar, and Immediately facing it. For
some thirty feet around the golden winged
figures the space was roped off, and the
muititudes stood outside the ropes. With
in were a circle of white-robed, gold-cinc-
tured priests holding long golden trumpets
in their hands and Immediately in front
of us was our friend Agon, the High Priest,
with his curious cap upon his head. His
was the only covered head in that vast as
semblage. We took our stand upon the
braGs space, little knowing what was pre-
pared for us beneath; but | noticed curl
GUS Kissing sound, proceeding apparently
from the floor, for which | could not aC-
count. Then came pause, and / looked
round to see If there was any sign of the
two queens, Nyleptha and Sorais, but they
were not there. TO the right Of us, how
ever, was bare space, that l guessed was
reserved for them.
We waited, and presently far-off trum-
pet blew, apparently high up in the dome
Then came another murmur from the null
titude; and up a long lane, leading to the
open space to our right, we saw the two
queens walking side by side. Behind them
were some mobiles OF the court. among
whom recognized the great lord Nasta,
and behind them again body of about
fifty guards. Theselast I was very glad
to see. Presently they had all arrived and
taken their stand the two queens in the
front, the mobiles to the right and left, and
TIE guards in a double semicircle behind
them. Then came another silence, and
Nyleptha looked up and caught my eye;
it seenred to me that there was meaning In
her glance, and / watched # narrowly
From my eye 1t travelled down to the brazen
flooring, on the outer edge of which we
stood Then followed slight and almost
imperceptble sidelong movement of the
head. l did not understand it, and it was
repeated. Then T guessed that she meant
us to move back off the brazen floor. One
more glance and | was sure of it-there
was danger in standing on the floor. Sir
Henry was placed on one side of me, UNI
slopOgaas on the other. Keeping my eyes
fixed straight before me, | whispered to
them, first in Zulu and then in English,
to draw slowly back inch Ivy inch till half
their feet were resting on the marble floor.
ing where the brass ceased. Sir Henry
whispered on to Good and AlphOnSa, and
slowly, very, very slowly, we shifted back
ward; SO slowly indeed that nObD1f, eX.
cept Nyltgtha and Sorais, who saw every.
thing. seemed to notice the movement
Then | glanced again at Nyl2ptha, and
saw that, by an almost imperceptible nod,
she indicated approval All the while
AGon's eyes were fixed upon the altar be
fore him apparently IN an ecstasy Of CON
temptation, and mine were fixed upon the
small of his back in another sort of ecstasy.
Then suddenly he flung up his long arms,
and in n solemn and Resembling voice,
commenced n chant, of which, for conven-
fence sake, I append rough, Uery rough
translation here, though, of course, did
not then comprehend its meaning. 1t was
an invocation TO the SUn, and ran some
what rs follows:
There is silence upon the face Of the Earth and
the waters thereof!
Yea, the silence doth brood on the waters like
Il nesting bird;
The silence sleepeth also upon the bosom of
the profound darkness.
only nigh up in the great spaces star doth cry
unto star.
The Earth is faint with longing and wet with
the tears of her desire;
Inc star-girdlcd night doth embrace her. but
she is not cOmforted.
the gruve-clOthcS.
And stretches her pale hands to the East.
Lo' away in the farthcst East there is the
shadow of n light;
The Earth seeth and lifts herself. She looks
out from beneath the hollow of her hand.
Then thy great angels fly forth from thy holy
place, oh sun.
They shoot their fiery swords into the dark
ness and shrivel it up.
They climb up the heavens and cast down the
pale stars 1TOm their thrones;
Yea, they hurl the changeful stars back into
the womb of the night;
They cause the moon 10 become wan as the
face OF dying man.
And behold! Thy glory comes. oh sun!
Oh thou beautiful one, thou drapest myself
in fire,
The wide heavens arc thy pathway thou roll
est Ger them as a chariot.
The earth Is thy bride: Thou dost embrace
her, and she brings forth children:
Yea, thou tavorest her, and she yields her in
crease.
Thou art the All Father and the giver of life
oh SUM
The young children stretch out their hands
aud grow in thy brightness;
The old men creep fortn ana seeing remember
their strength.
Only the dead forget thee, oh Sun!
When thou art wroth, then thou dost hide thy
face;
Thou drawest around thee thick curtain of
shadows.
Then the Earth grows cold and the Heavens
arc diSmaycd;
They tremble and the sound thereof is the
sound of thunder;
They weep, and their tears airs outpoured into
the rain:
They sigh, and the wild winds are the voice
OF their signing;
The flowers die, the fruitful fields lanruish
and turn pale;
The old men and the little children 60 unto